Young earth creationism: Difference between revisions

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Young earth creationism (often referred to simply as creationism) is the name given to a belief espoused by some fundamentalist Christians which asserts that the origin of the Universe and all life on earth was precisely revealed in the Biblical book of Genesis. Taking a literal interpretation, proponents argue that the earth is only 6,000 – 10,000 years old.

While other cultures may hold similar views of a young Earth, young Earth creationism is generally understood to refer to the fundamentalist Christian (or orthodox Jewish) view.

History

The creationist chronology was originally developed in 17th century England by Archbishop James Ussher, an Anglican, in 1651. Ussher calculated, using the chronologies given in the books of the Bible, that the first day of creation occurred on October 23, 4004 BC. His chronology was typeset in English Bibles starting in 1701; however, the year 4004 BC was already well known among theologians.^[1]

Young Earth creationism was once a mainstream view in large parts of Protestant Christian Europe and was not a contentious issue until the 19th century, when scientists (such as James Hutton and Charles Lyelle) started publishing work, based on their analyses of geological processes and formations, supporting the view that the earth was not a few thousand years old but, in fact, several millions of years old. This view was based largely on belief in uniformitarianism. The subsequent publication of Darwin's On the Origin of Species in 1859 and the associated Theory of Evolution, also affirmed the view that the Earth was much older than the 6,000 to 10,000 years proposed by young Earth creationists.

The increasing acceptance of this longer geological time scale among scientists and lay-persons alike (including many of the clergy) meant that in the latter part of the 19th century the young Earth creationist chronology was no longer viewed as accurate by the majority of educated citizens in Western Europe. The 4004 year of creation, which had already been abandoned by most liberal theologians, began to lose favour with many conservatives and fundamentalists also, who adopted a figurative interpretation of the first two chapters of Genesis.

The Scopes Trial

The Scopes trial tool place in Tennesee, USA in 1925 and was seen as a watershed event in the creation-evolution controversy. It was the subject of fervent national media attention.

The Butler Act, passed in March 1925 in Tennessee, made it unlawful for any teacher in any of the public schools of the state to teach any theory that "denies the story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from a lower order of animals." The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) began a campaign to challenge this law and sought someone who would be prepared to admit to teaching evolution in a state school and stand trial so that the law could be challenged in court. John T. Scopes volunteered to play that part. Although the ACLU and Scopes lost the trial, the resulting publicity brought the issue to the forefront of the minds of the American people and many people saw it is a set-back for those who opposed the Theory of Evolution. ^[2]

Modern-day young Earth creationism

The modern form of young Earth creationism is generally ascribed to two American theologians in the early 1960s, John C. Whitcomb, Jr., B.D., Th.M., Th.D. and Henry M. Morris, Ph.D. in their book The Genesis Flood (1961). They in turn borrowed heavily from George McCready Price, a self-taught Seventh-day Adventist author of The New Geology (1923).

Several organisations exist throughout the world that support and promote the idea of young Earth creationism. Some of the most prominent ones are Answers In Genesis [4], Creation Ministries International [5] and the Institute for Creation Research [6].

Creation Museum, Kentucky, USA

In 2007, a young Earth creationist group, Answers In Genesis [7] opened the Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky, USA. The construction and opening of the museum generated much interest and controversy in the press and media, particularly for exhibitions such as those that display early humans at play alongside vegetarian dinosaurs.^[3]. The museum was designed by Patrick Marsh, who also designed the Jaws and King Kong exhibits at Universal Studios, Florida ^[4]

Other groups in the United States have had similar plans: The Creation Discovery Center was opened by the Creation Studies Institute, a Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based ministry that promotes young earth creationism. ^[5]

Criticisms

The scientific community has on the whole rejected young Earth creationism. Additionally, religious creationists who believe in old earth creationism also reject the assertion that the earth is only approximately 6,000 – 10,000 years old.

Supporting scientists

The creationist organisation Answers in Genesis maintains a list of present day scientists that purportedly accept the Bibical account of creation.[8]

Notes

↑ J. G. C. M. Fuller, "A date to remember: 4004 BC," Earth sciences history 2005, vol. 24, no1, pp. 5-14
↑ State v. John Scopes ("The Monkey Trial") by Douglas O. Linder, [1]
↑ Associated Press, "New Bible-Based Museum Has Dinosaurs," in New York Times May 26, 2007, [2] (article non-existant when checked on 8th August 2007)
↑ What's with all the dinosaurs?, [3] (accessed on 8th August 2007).
↑ Creationism 'Lite': 'Intelligent design' proponents marry God and evolution. The Record (Bergen County, NJ), August 28, 2005 Sunday, All Editions, OPINION; Pg. O01, 1680 words, By ALEXANDRA ALTER, Wire Services.

External links

Young Earth creationist organisations

Answers In Genesis

Creation Ministries International

Institute for Creation Research

Discussions on creationism

Northwest Creation Network Summary of Biblical Young Earth Creationism, with numerous links

In Evolution Debate, Creationists Are Breaking New Ground Washington Post article on the Creation Museum (free registration required)

The Young Earth Creation Club Arguments and publications from Young Earth creationists.

godandscience.org Young Earth vs. Old Earth arguments from Old Earth creationists.

[1] J. G. C. M. Fuller, "A date to remember: 4004 BC," Earth sciences history 2005, vol. 24, no1, pp. 5-14

[2] State v. John Scopes ("The Monkey Trial") by Douglas O. Linder, [1]

[3] Associated Press, "New Bible-Based Museum Has Dinosaurs," in New York Times May 26, 2007, [2] (article non-existant when checked on 8th August 2007)

[4] What's with all the dinosaurs?, [3] (accessed on 8th August 2007).

[5] Creationism 'Lite': 'Intelligent design' proponents marry God and evolution. The Record (Bergen County, NJ), August 28, 2005 Sunday, All Editions, OPINION; Pg. O01, 1680 words, By ALEXANDRA ALTER, Wire Services.

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-'''Young earth creationism''' is a fundamentalist Christian belief asserting that the origin of the universe, and of life on earth, was precisely revealed in the  [[Bible]]'s book of [[Genesis]]. Taking a literal interpretation, proponents argue that the earth is only 6000 - 10, 000 years old.  Once a mainstream belief in parts of Protestant Europe, modern adherents to young earth creationism are at odds with majority Christian views about the world, and with the teachings of current science. Yet activists, especially in Australia, are not only unapologetic about such a minority position, but claim several supporters have credentials as scientists. <ref>See [http://www.creationists.org/outstanding.html List of Creation Scientists] </ref>  Few of these activists have training in [[biology]], but they are primarily opposed to what they call "Darwinism," and attack modern biology for its opposition to their beliefs. Their focus on Darwin is most likely on a historical basis. Viewing Genesis as the recorded word of God, adherents to young earth creationism are sure that the truth is known to them and, accordingly, are skeptical of the need for scientific research to support those views.
+'''Young earth creationism''' (often referred to simply as [[creationism]]) is the name given to a belief espoused by some [[fundamentalist]] [[Christianity|Christians]] which asserts that the origin of the Universe and all life on earth was precisely revealed in the [[Bible|Biblical]] book of [[Genesis]]. Taking a literal interpretation, proponents argue that the earth is only 6,000 – 10,000 years old.
-The creationist chronology was originally developed in 17th century [[England]]. Archbishop James Ussher, an Anglican, in 1651 argued that the first day of creation occurred on October 23, 4004 BC, and his chronology was typeset in English bibles starting in 1701.<ref>However, the year 4004 BC was already well known to theologians.   J. G. C. M. Fuller, "A date to remember: 4004 BC," ''Earth sciences history'' 2005, vol. 24, no1, pp. 5-14 </ref> Young earth creationism was the popular belief among Christians, and was not a contentious issue until the 19th century, when geologists (such as [[James Hutton]] and [[Charles Lylle]])  found very old fossils and published convincing evidence that the earth was millions of years old. The publication of [[Charles Darwin|Darwin]]'s ''On the Origin of Species'' in 1859 led to the acceptance of the diversity of living things as a result of evolution rather than by divine creation as depicted in Genesis. With the acceptance of the geologic time scale by scientists through out the world in the latter part of the 19th century, creationist chronology was no longer viewed as accurate by more educated citizens, including the clergy. The 4004 date was abandoned in the 1870s by liberal theologians, and in 1890-1920 was abandoned by the conservatives and fundamentalists, who concluded the Bible does not speak to the age of the earth or the dates of Adam. <ref> Numbers (2000)</ref>  In other words, the  interpretation of the Bible-as-science was altered while Christian faith was maintained.
+While other cultures may hold similar views of a young Earth, young Earth creationism is generally understood to refer to the fundamentalist Christian (or orthodox Jewish) view.
-In the United States, by the early years of the 20th century, a wide gap in scientific literacy between the more educated and less religious populations of the cities and towns (particularly in the North), and the less educated and more traditionally religious populations of the countryside, (particularly in the rural South) became pronounced. The advances in science had been revolutionary over the latter part of the nineteenth century, during the same period that the American South had suffered through the aftermath of the Civil War, leaving much of the population intellectually isolated and poverty-stricken. In the southern United States, Christian fundamentalism had grown rapidly after 1920, especially under the auspices of the Southern Baptist church, which included most Southern whites. The disparity in both scientific literacy and religious temperament between the Northern and Urban,  and the Southern rural populations was highlighted by "the events leading up to the famous [[Scopes trial]] in 1925, which found teacher John Scopes guilty of teaching evolution in violation of Tennessee state law.  The Scopes trial received national attention and newspaper reports turned those individuals who believed in a literal interpretation of the Bible into laughing stock in the eyes of the more urbane and sophisticated Americans.  For the ridiculed, the Scopes trial resulted in further polarization away from contemporary norms of the more educated and secular Americans.  Public censure helped convince a segment of the fundamentalists that Darwinism was a profound source of evil.  Besides suffering ridicule, they feared that Christian teachings based on the Bible were under general attack from secular forces that required the public schools to teach Darwinian biology.   In this way, science education- particularly public school education in biology and the theory of evolution, became symbolic of a hostile movement  to undercut traditional moral values.
+==History==
-Young earth creationism in its current form was invented by two American theologians in the early 1960s, John C. Whitcomb, Jr. and Henry M. Morris, in ''The Genesis Flood'' (1961).  They in turn borrowed heavily (without attribution) from George McCready Price, a self-taught Seventh-day Adventist author of ''The New Geology'' (1923). Price was not trying to interpret the Bible; he was trying to justify the visions of [[Ellen G. White]], the founder of Seventh Day Adventism. Whitcomb and Morris modified Price's work by  dropping references to Adventism and adding a Baptist interpretation to Price's theory that a great flood in the time of Noah had created all the fossils. The young earth creationism movement in the United States is rooted in the anti-modern Southern rural evangelical culture and exhibits a determined search for an alternative ethic not contaminated by secularism and Darwinism, which are seen as minions of Satan.  Thus the creationists excommunicated adherents of the idea that "days" in Genesis meant epochs, not 24-hour units. The movement is largely confined to Protestant [[fundamentalism|fundamentalists]], especially in the United States and Australia. The theory is most popular among militant [[Southern Baptists]] and [[Missouri Synod Lutherans]].  Adherence to these beliefs have separated the young earth creationism  proponents from more moderate fundamentalist Christians in internecine theological battles.<ref> Numbers 2006</ref>
+The creationist chronology was originally developed in 17th century [[England]] by [[Archbishop James Ussher]], an [[Anglican]], in 1651. Ussher calculated, using the chronologies given in the books of the Bible, that the first day of creation occurred on October 23, 4004 [[BC]]. His chronology was typeset in English Bibles starting in 1701; however, the year 4004 BC was already well known among theologians.<ref>J. G. C. M. Fuller, "A date to remember: 4004 BC," ''Earth sciences history'' 2005, vol. 24, no1, pp. 5-14</ref>
+Young Earth creationism was once a mainstream view in large parts of [[Protestantism|Protestant]] [[Christianity|Christian]] [[Europe]] and was not a contentious issue until the 19th century, when scientists (such as [[James Hutton]] and [[Charles Lyelle]]) started publishing work, based on their analyses of geological processes and formations, supporting the view that the earth was not a few thousand years old but, in fact, several millions of years old. This view was based largely on belief in [[uniformitarianism]]. The subsequent publication of [[Charles Darwin|Darwin]]'s ''[[On the Origin of Species]]'' in 1859 and the associated [[Evolution|Theory of Evolution]], also affirmed the view that the Earth was much older than the 6,000 to 10,000 years proposed by young Earth creationists.
+The increasing acceptance of this longer geological time scale among scientists and lay-persons alike (including many of the clergy) meant that in the latter part of the 19th century the young Earth creationist chronology was no longer viewed as accurate by the majority of educated citizens in Western Europe.<!-- citation needed --> The 4004 year of creation, which had already been abandoned by most liberal theologians, began to lose favour with many conservatives and fundamentalists also, who adopted a figurative interpretation of the first two chapters of Genesis. <!-- citation needed -->
+===The Scopes Trial===
+The [[Scopes trial]] tool place in [[Tennesee]], USA in 1925 and was seen as a watershed event in the [[creation-evolution controversy]].<!-- citation needed --> It was the subject of fervent national media attention.<!-- citation needed -->
+The [[Butler Act]], passed in March 1925 in Tennessee, made it unlawful for any teacher in any of the public schools of the state to teach any theory that "denies the story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from a lower order of animals."<!-- citation needed --> The [[American Civil Liberties Union]] (ACLU) began a campaign to challenge this law and sought someone who would be prepared to admit to teaching evolution in a state school and stand trial so that the law could be challenged in court. [[John T. Scopes]] volunteered to play that part. Although the ACLU and Scopes lost the trial, the resulting publicity brought the issue to the forefront of the minds of the American people and many people saw it is a set-back for those who opposed the Theory of Evolution. <ref>State v. John Scopes ("The Monkey Trial") by Douglas O. Linder, [http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/scopes/evolut.htm] </ref>
+==Modern-day young Earth creationism==
+The modern form of young Earth creationism is generally ascribed to two American theologians in the early 1960s, [[John C. Whitcomb, Jr.]], B.D., Th.M., Th.D. and [[Henry M. Morris]], Ph.D. in their book ''[[The Genesis Flood]]'' (1961)<!-- citation needed -->. They in turn borrowed heavily from George McCready Price, a self-taught Seventh-day Adventist author of ''The New Geology'' (1923).<!-- citation needed -->
+Several organisations exist throughout the world that support and promote the idea of young Earth creationism. Some of the most prominent ones are [[Answers In Genesis]][http://www.answersingenesis.org], [[Creation Ministries International]][http://www.creationontheweb.org] and the [[Institute for Creation Research]][http://www.icr.org/].
+==Creation Museum, Kentucky, USA==
+In 2007, a young Earth creationist group, [[Answers In Genesis]][http://www.answersingenesis.org/] opened the [[Creation Museum]] in Petersburg, [[Kentucky]], [[USA]]. The construction and opening of the museum generated much interest and controversy in the press and media,<!-- citation needed --> particularly for exhibitions such as those that display early humans at play alongside vegetarian dinosaurs.<ref> Associated Press, "New Bible-Based Museum Has Dinosaurs," in New York ''Times'' May 26, 2007, [http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Creation-Museum.html] (article non-existant when checked on 8th August 2007)</ref>. The museum was designed by [[Patrick Marsh]], who also designed the [[Jaws]] and [[King Kong]] exhibits at [[Universal Studios]], Florida <ref> What's with all the dinosaurs?, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/religion/Story/0,,1946370,00.html] (accessed on 8th August 2007). </ref>
+Other groups in the [[United States]] have had similar plans: The [[Creation Discovery Center]] was opened by the [[Creation Studies Institute]], a Fort Lauderdale, [[Florida]]-based ministry that promotes young earth creationism. <ref> Creationism 'Lite': 'Intelligent design' proponents marry God and evolution.  The Record (Bergen County, NJ), August 28, 2005 Sunday,  All Editions, OPINION; Pg. O01, 1680 words, By ALEXANDRA ALTER, Wire Services.</ref>
+==Criticisms==
+The scientific community has on the whole rejected young Earth creationism. Additionally, religious creationists who believe in [[old earth creationism]] also reject the assertion that the earth is only approximately 6,000 – 10,000 years old.
+==Supporting scientists==
+The creationist organisation Answers in Genesis maintains a list of present day scientists that purportedly accept the Bibical account of creation.[http://www.answersingenesis.org/Home/Area/bios/default.asp#presentsci]
-The scientific community as a whole has rejected young earth creationism for more than a hundred years.  In addition, religious creationists who believe in [[old earth creationism]] also reject the assertion that the earth is only approximately 6000 years old. Young earth creationists allege that the evidence supporting their theories has been suppressed by mainstream science, and occasionally have brought lawsuits alleging censorship, one of them by Robert V. Gentry. They share this concern of a general scientific conspiracy with the proponents of [[intelligent design]] , a form of creationism that makes no claim on the age of the earth but does assert that living things exist because of an intelligent designer.
-Believers in 2007 opened the Creation Museum theme park near Cincinnati, Ohio, showing early humans at play alongside vegetarian dinosaurs.<ref> Associated Press, "New Bible-Based Museum Has Dinosaurs," in New York ''Times'' May 26, 2007 at [http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Creation-Museum.html?_r=1&oref=login]</ref> Other groups in the United States have had similar plans. The "Creation Discovery Center, a museum with exhibits on Noah's flood, the Ice Age and the dinosaurs (featured in the antediluvian room in a mural with Adam and Eve)" was opened by Creation Studies Institute, a Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based ministry that promotes young earth creationism (Creationism 'lite'; 'Intelligent design' proponents marry God and evolution.<ref>  The Record (Bergen County, NJ), August 28, 2005 Sunday,  All Editions, OPINION; Pg. O01, 1680 words, By ALEXANDRA ALTER, Wire Services).</ref> The Creation Museum theme park is likely to remain a showcase for the movement, however. Planned by "a designer of amusement parks who created the Jaws and King Kong exhibits at Florida's Universal Studios, in a special-effects theater, the seats shake and visitors are sprinkled with water. There's a lush Garden of Eden, a partial re-creation of Noah's Ark, a slice of the Grand Canyon, lots of videos on plasma TVs, and a planetarium for exploring the universe. At Noah's Cafe, kids can saddle up on a triceratops." ( Jane Lampman:Natural history, Bible-style. Christian Science Monitor.May 24, 2007 edition)
 ==Notes==
 {{reflist}}
-==Bibliography==
+==Further reading==
+* Bratt, James D., "History of Brief Time" ''Reviews in American History,'' Vol. 22, No. 2 (Jun., 1994), pp. 335-339. (review of Numbers, 1992 edition. [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0048-7511(199406)22%3A2%3C335%3AAHOBT%3E2.0.CO%3B2-5 online at JSTOR]
+* Edward J. Larson: Trial and Error: The American Controversy Over Creation and Evolution 2003  ISBN 0195154703
 * Giberson, Karl W.  and Donald A. Yerxa. ''Species of Origins: America's Search for a Creation Story (2002)'' looks at the debate over creationism and evolution in late 20th century; covers Darwinism, young earth creationism, and intelligent design.
 * Lienesch, Michael. ''In the Beginning: Fundamentalism, the Scopes Trial, and the Making of the Antievolution Movement'' (2007)
 * Numbers, Ronald L. ''The Creationists'' (2nd ed. 2006)
-**  James D. Bratt, "History of Brief Time" ''Reviews in American History,'' Vol. 22, No. 2 (Jun., 1994), pp. 335-339. (review of Numbers, 1992 edition. [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0048-7511(199406)22%3A2%3C335%3AAHOBT%3E2.0.CO%3B2-5 online at JSTOR]
 * Numbers, Ronald L. "The Most Important Biblical Discovery of Our Time": William Henry Green and the Demise of Ussher's Chronology," ''Church History,'' Vol. 69, No. 2 (Jun., 2000), pp. 257-276 [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0009-6407%28200006%2969%3A2%3C257%3A%22MIBDO%3E2.0.CO%3B2-W&size=LARGE&origin=JSTOR-enlargePage in JSTOR]
-==Further reading==
+==External links==
+===Young Earth creationist organisations===
+* [http://www.answersingenesis.org Answers In Genesis]
+* [http://www.creationontheweb.org/ Creation Ministries International]
-===Scopes Trial===
+* [http://www.icr.org/ Institute for Creation Research]
-* Edward J. Larson: Trial and Error: The American Controversy Over Creation and Evolution 2003  ISBN 0195154703
+===Discussions on creationism===
-==External links==
 *[http://nwcreation.net/ageyoung.html Northwest Creation Network] Summary of Biblical Young Earth Creationism, with numerous links
 *[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/24/AR2005092401262.html In Evolution Debate, Creationists Are Breaking New Ground] ''Washington Post'' article on the Creation Museum (free registration required)
 *[http://www.creationists.org/ The Young Earth Creation Club] Arguments and publications from Young Earth creationists.
 *[http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/creation.php godandscience.org] Young Earth vs. Old Earth arguments from Old Earth creationists.